Read Hebrews 10:24-25 in your personal Bible or at the link provided.
Review
1. What are we encouraged to motivate each other toward?
2. What are we told to not neglect?
3. Why is this important?
Reflect
This week, we’ve looked at church hurt and the impact it can have. So often, when someone is hurt by the church, their first instinct is to separate from it, to live their lives from a distance. Today’s verses remind us that we were made for more. Gathering regularly with other people – motivating and encouraging each other – is critical to our formation.
Why should we be part of a church family? Because formation requires relationship. This might mean friction at times… It might mean stepping into vulnerability, which can make us susceptible to hurt. But the alternative is isolation, and that’s no way to live either. Our quality of life is often defined by the quality of our relationships. It’s the way we grow.
In a church family, you can be invited to heal, let go of an offense, be known, and keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. You can join a group, serve, and invest into the lives of others. The needs you can meet and the things you can accomplish together are so much bigger than on your own. Step into relationship, and let God form you.
Respond
• Have you ever distanced yourself from a church family or from community that could motivate and encourage you to grow? What was the result?
• What are some ways you can engage with a church family this week or month? (If you’re not currently part of a Traders Point group, check out our short-term groups kicking off soon. These groups will meet in October and early November. Details and signup can be found at tpcc.org/awaken-groups.)
• If you’re plugged into a church community, how could God use you to help someone else grow? How could you partner together to invest in the life of someone else?
Pray through these questions, and write down what God is prompting you to do next. Share with a friend, and take a step to apply it.
Want to go deeper? Visit the Traders Point app or this link to see our recommended resources for this week’s topic. If you want to catch Sunday’s message again, you can find it here.